Railing formed of interlocking components



Aug. 4, 1970 J. G. BRAUN m RAILING FORMED OF INTERLOCKING COMPONENTSFiled April 23, 1969 mm MW l lffflll visa United States Patent 3,522,933RAILING FORMED OF INTERLOCKING COMPONENTS Jacob G. Braun III, 3025 OldGlenview Road, Wilmette, Ill. 60091 Filed Apr. 23, 1969, Ser. No.818,694 Int. Cl. E04h 17/16 U.S. Cl. 256-22 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A railing structure assembled of co-operable interlockingrails, balusters and baluster connectors. The rails are provided withchannels having recessed keyways extending the length of the rails toreceive an end portion of the balusters and the baluster connectors. Thebalusters are provided at their end portions with concentric oppositelyextending pins, and the baluster connectors are provided With end socketportions adapted to co-operably receive and hold the pins. The balusterconnectors include keyportions by which they are engaged for slidingmovement within the keyways along the rails and are disposed in pairswith respect to each baluster, there being one at each side of suchbaluster to rigidly interconnect and interlock the baluster with therail, and to determine spacing between adjacent balusters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to thefield of railings and is particularly directed to an ornamental railingwhich is readily assembled of co-operable interlocking railingcomponents.

Railings of ornamental character, especially those constructed of metal,are widely used for architectural purposes. In general, such railingsare fabricated by joining metal rails balusters, and suitable ornamentalfiligree in welding or brazing operations. Such fabrication is generallyperformed in iron-work shops, after which the railings are transportedto the construction site for final installation by attachment tosuitable supporting structures such as, for example, walls and osts.Further, the railing components are generally not manufactured by theiron-work shop, but are purchased from mill-type suppliers ofarchitectural metal shapes in standard lengths, shapes and sizes. Suchrailings consequently require the services of skilled fabricatorsemploying costly fabrication machinery, and, after fabrication, arecumbersome to transport and ship.

It will thus be readily appreciated that such conventional railings arenot suitable for fabrication and use by non-skilled persons. Forexample, the large class of potential purchasers comprising thedo-it-yourself home owner is substantially precluded from the market forornamental railings for their personal use. A further disadvantage ofsuch conventional railings is the high cost of their fabrication; theshortage of skilled fabricators; and the cost of transportingfully-fabricated railing assemblies to the installation site.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention overcomes the disadvantages ofthe conventional railings described hereinabove by providing a railingwhich is readily assembled at the actual site of installation by thesimple joinder of associated railing components which are co-operablyinterlocked in manual assembly to provide a rigid, attractive andeconomical railing structure.

Briefly, the railing of this invention includes rail components each ofwhich is provided with a channel extending the length of the rail, whichchannels have grooved 3,522,933 Patented Aug. 4, 1970 keyways in theirroot portions to slidably receive co-operable baluster connectors. Thebaluster connectors have a socket at each end to receive pins fixed tothe end portion of associated balusters. A pair of such pins areprovided adjacent each end of the balusters and are arranged to extendconcentrically in opposite directions therefrom. A baluster ispositioned with an end portion within the channel of a rail and betweena pair of spaced apart baluster connectors. One baluster connector isthen engaged with the pin at one side of the baluster, and the otherbaluster connector is engaged in a like manner with the pin at the otherside of the baluster. As thus interconnected, the baluster is rigidlyheld in position in the rail. Successive balusters are theninterconnected in a like manner with the rail by engagement of theirrespective pins with successive baluster connectors. The open portion ofthe channels in the rails is covered by plug members which are slippedinto the openings to provide a flush surface over the extent of the railin which the channel is formed.

Advantageously, the railings of this invention are compactly arranged ineasily handled unit packages for shipcrnent directly to the installationsite. In addition, the simplicity of assembly benefits both the skilledinstaller and the do-it-yourself home owner. For example, the skilledinstaller avoids the use of welding equipment and fabricating jigs, bothof which must be used in a fabricating shop separate from theinstallation site, and with the sole use of a mallet quickly assemblesthe railing at the installation site upon any relatively flat surfaceavailable there. As for the average home owner, there is now available ametallic ornamental railing, which may be purchased in component form ata conventional market, from which it is inexpensively shipped anddelivered to his home, and is easily assembled by him using only amallet to drive the interlocking baluster connectors into firmengagement with the associated pins of the balusters.

It is, therefore, an object of my present invention to provide a railingstructure assembled of co-operable interlocking rails, balusters andbaluster connectors.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a railingstructure which is assembled of interlocking rails, balusters andbaluster connectors; which rails, balusters and connectors are readilyformed by conventional machinery used by suppliers of architecturalmetal shapes.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a railingstructure employing interlocking rails, balusters and balusterconnectors which are readily manufactured by suppliers of architecturalmetal shapes in economical production runs, and which are stocked inunits for gathering, compact packaging, and economical shipment tofulfill customers orders.

Another object of this invention is to provide a railing structureassembled of co-operable interlocking rails, balusters and balusterconnectors, the rails being provided with channels having tracksarranged to slidably receive baluster connectors, which connectors areprovided with socket portions at their opposite ends formed to receiveassociated concentric oppositely extending ins provided adjacent theends of the balusters to firmly seat the baluster against the track andto restrain the baluster from movement with respect to the rail.

These and further objects and advantages will be more fully appreciatedfrom the following description and related drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the railing of my intion, and in which aportion of the railing comprising one baluster and its associatedbaluster connector and plug members are illustrated in an exploded partview;

FIG. 2 is a lateral cross-sectional view of the hand rail of FIG. 1taken along the section line 2-2 thereon and looking in the direction ofthe arrows thereof;

FIG. 3 is a lateral cross-section of the bottom rail of FIG. 1 takenalong the section lines 3-3 thereon and looking in the direction of thearrows thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented isometric view of one end portion of one balusterconnector of the exploded portion of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmented isometric view of one of the plug membersillustrated in the exploded portion of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The most comprehensiveillustration of the presently preferred embodiment of the railing of myinvention is shown in FIG. 1, wherein the railing, designated generallyby the numeral 10, is illustratively shown in a partially assembledcondition with its constituent interlocking elements shown in anexploded part view. Illustratively, the railing is shown in FIG. 1installed in a vertically oriented position adjacent the outer edge of aplatform 11, and is attached at the left-hand end thereof to a wall 12which determines the corresponding extent of the platform 11. Therailing 10 would typically be supported at its other end by attachmentto another wall, or to a conventional support post, neither of whichforms a part of this invention and consequently are not shown in thedrawings. It will be observed in FIG. 1 that the railing 10 comprisesgenerally an elongated hand rail 13, a companion bottom rail 14, aplurality of like balusters a, 15b, 15c and 15d, a correlative pluralityof spacersocket members 16 and a like plurality of associated plugmembers 17. These constituent elements of the railing 10 are typicallyformed of an architecturally suitable material, such as, for example,steel, aluminum, bronze and other metal alloys, and plastics.

Referring for illustration to FIG. 1, the hand rail 13 and the bottomrail 14 are of equal length, and are pro vided with like channels and 21formed respectively in, and extending the length of, the underportion ofhand rail 13 and the upper portion of bottom rail 14. The channels 20and 21 serve the identical function in the hand rail 13 and the bottomrail 14, i.e., to receive spacersocket members 16 and the correspondingouter end portions of the balusters 15 to interconnect the balusters 15with the hand rail 13 and the bottom rail 14. Inasmuch as the channel 20of the hand rail 13 and the channel 21 and bottom rail 14 are identicalstructurally and functionally, only channel 20 will be describedhereinafter in detail. In other respects the hand rail 13 and the bottomrail 14 differ in their external configuration; such configuration beingdictated principally by function and appearance criteria.

As shown at the left-hand end of the view of the railing 10 of FIG. 1,the hand rail 13 and the bottom rail 14 are attached to the wall 12 byangle brackets 30 and 31, respectively, which are disposed under therails to shelter them from view. The brackets 30 and 31 are fastened totheir corresponding rails 13 and 14 by conventional fastening means,such as the sheet metal screws 32, and to the wall 12 by insert shieldsand associated bolts 33, all of which are well-known in this art. Asindicated hereinbefore, the railing 10 will typically be attached andsupported at its other end by similar fastening means.

Referring particularly now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, it Will be observedthat the hand rail 13 and the bottom rail 14 are generally tubular inform, and that the tubular walls of the rails define the interior andexterior surfaces thereof. However, it will be understood from theensuing detailed description of the channels 20 and 21, that the rails13 and 14 may have numerous different structural forms which embody thestructure and function of the channels 20 and 21, but which areparticularly suited to the material of which the rails are formed andthe manufacturing process employed. The channel 20 is arranged centrallyof the hand rail 13 and divides the underside thereof into two parallellaterally spaced underportions 22 and 23 having coplanar underfaces 24and 25, respectively. The like channel 21 of bottom rail 14, as shown inFIG. 3, similarly divides the upper portion of bottom rail 14 into twoparallel laterally spaced upper portions 26 and 27, having coplanarupper faces 28 and 29. Specifically, channel 20 is formed by a pair oflaterally spaced inwardly turned flange walls 40 and 41, havingsubstantially planar parallel facing side wall surfaces 42 and 43respectively and a root portion 44 disposed interiorly of the hand rail13 and centrally between the side wall surfaces 42 and 43. The side wallsurfaces 42 and 43 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than thewidth of the balusters 15 to receive the associated end portions thereofin an intimate slip-fit manner, and thereby brace the balusters 1Slaterally in the rails 13 and 14. The channels 20 and 21 are formed toextend continuously the entire length of the rails 13 and 14 and withboth ends thereof open. However, one end of each of the rails 13 and 14of this embodiment is provided with a conforming end cap completelyenclosing the end of the rail to establish a block to facilitateassembly of the railing 10. As viewed in FIG. 1, the caps (not shown)are disposed at the left-hand end of the railing 10 and are attached tothe rails as by welding or brazing. The right-hand end of the rails 13and 14 is open to receive the spacer-socket members 16, as will be morefully described hereinafter.

The root portion 44 of channel 20 is illustrated most clearly in FIG. 2,where it is shown in right cross-section. As shown there, root portion44 includes a step portion 45 which is divided by a central slot 46 intotwo laterally spaced portions having coplanar outer faces 47 and 48. Thecoplanar outer faces 47 and 48 are parallel to the under-faces 24 and 25of rail 13, and provide a uniform bearing surface against which theassociated terminal end surface of the balusters 15 are seated uponassembly therewith. Preferably, the step portion 45 has a width at leastequal to the lateral width of the balusters 15 to obtain full bearingtherebetween. The central slot 46 communicates with an interior keyway49, and Which combine to provide a longitudinally extending open track50 having a T cross-sectional configuration. Track 50 provides acontinuous slideway arranged to co-operably receive the spacer-socketmembers 16.

In the assembly of the railing 10 the spacer-socket members 16 serve toremovably interconnect the balusters 15 with the rails 13 and 14, and tospace the balusters therealong. For the purpose of simplicity ofdescription, the spacer-socket members 16 of this embodiment are equalin length to provide uniform spacing of the balusters 15 along the rails13 and 14. However, it will be appreciated that while correspondingupper and lower pairs of the spacer-socket members 16 are necessarily ofequal length, successive pairs may be of unequal length to providerandom or unequal spacing of the balusters 15. Inasmuch as thespacer-socket members 16 of this embodiment are alike both structurallyand functionally, only those spacer-socket members associated directlywith baluster 15a and denoted as 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d in the explodedportion of FIG. 1, will be particularly referred to in this description.Further, only spacer-socket member 16a, as typical of all of thespacer-socket members 16, will be described structurally in detail,utilizing numerals which will be referred to as common in each of theother spacer-socket members 16.

The spacer-socket member 16a includes an elongated key portion 55 and aco-extensive tubular portion 56 which are interjoined longitudinally byan integral web portion 57. As shown at FIG. 2, the spacer-socket member16a is dimensioned to lie entirely within the channel 20 of the rail 13,and is thus completely concealed when assembled therewith. The elongatedkey portion 55 and a portion of the web 57 adjacent thereto define a Tlateral cross-section which conforms dimensionally with the associatedtrack 50. Preferably, the key portion 55 and the associated track 50 areformed to provide a snug fit therebetween so that a light force isrequired to move the spacer-socket member 16a longitudinally along therail 13. As thus constructed, the spacer-socket member 16a will remainwhere positioned and will not become disengaged with the rail 13 duringthe normal movement thereof during assembly. The longitudinal axis 58 ofthe tubular portion 56 is parallel to the central axis of the keyportion 55 so that when the spacer-socket member 16a is assembled withthe rail 13 the axis 58 is also parallel to the co-planar outer faces 47and 48 of the step portion 45. Referring now to FIG. 1, it will beobserved that each of the opposite end portions 60 and 61 of the tubularportion 56 of the socket member 16a is arranged to receive acorresponding pin of adjacent balusters c and 15d. To provide grippingengagement of the pins 65, the diameter of the inner cylindrical wall 54of the end portions 60 and 61 is slightly less than the outside diameterof the pins, and the wall of the tubular portion 52 is slit, asindicated by numeral 53 along the longitudinal extent thereof oppositethe web 57 to permit limited forced separation of the tubular halvesthereof. Thus, when a pin is pressed into a corresponding end portion 60or 61, the wall halves are forced apart to accept the pin which isconsequently gripped therebe tween.

The end faces 62 and 63 of the socket member 16a corresponding with theopposite end portions 60 and 61, respectively, are shaped to conformwith the configuration of the side wall of the baluster 15c or 15dassociated therewith. Since, in this embodiment, the balusters 15 have asquare cross-section, the end portions 62 and 63 define a plane normalto the longitudinal axis 58 of the spacer-socket member 16a. Consistentwith this arrangement, it will be appreciated that spacer-socket membersused with, for example, round balusters, would be formed withsemi-cylindrical opposite end surfaces to intimately and bearinglyreceive the corresponding wall surfaces of such round balusters. As thusconstructed, a baluster 15 sandwiched between a pair of opposingspacer-socket members 16 is buttressed firmly against movement along therail 13 and is also restrained against angular movement with respectthereto.

Each of the like balusters 15 is provided with a pair of coaxiallyarranged, oppositely extending, pins adjacent each end thereof.Typically, baluster 15d, shown in the exploded view of FIG. 1, has apair of coaxially arranged cylindrical pins 65a and 65b, adjacent theupper end 66 thereof, and a like pair of cylindrical pins 65c and 65dadjacent the bottom end 67 thereof. The outer end portion of the shankof each of the pins 65a, 65b, 65c and 65d is tapered to facilitate theengagement of the pins 65 in the corresponding sockets 60 and 61 of thespacersocket members 16. The pins 65a, 65b, 65c and 65d of baluster 15dextend at right angles therefrom and are preferably spaced from thecorresponding upper and lower end surfaces 66 and 67 of balusters 15d adistance slightly greater than the distance between the socket portion56 of the spacer-socket members 16 and the coplanar outer faces 47 and48 of the step portion 45 when assembled with rail 13. As thus arranged,the outer end surface 66 of the baluster 15d is driven into pressureengagement with the co-planar outer faces 47 and 48 of the step portion45 of'rail 13 to firmly seat the outer end surface 66 thereagainst whenthe baluster 15d is assembled between a pair of opposed spacer-socketmembers 16a and 16b. It will be readily appreciated that firmly seatingthe end of each baluster against the step portions of the rails 13 and14 contributes to the rigidity of the railing 1i). Quite obviously,while the pins 65 have a circular cross-sectional shape in thisembodiment of my invention, the pins may also suitably be formed withpolygonal or irregular shapes and the sockets 60 and 61 shaped toconform therewith.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be observed that a plurality of plugmembers 17, equal in number to the number of spacer-socket members 16,are provided to cover the open portions of the channels 20 and 21defined in the rails 13 and 14, respectively, and adjacent and betweenthe assembled balusters 15a, 15b, 15c, and 15d. The open space betweensuccessive balusters 15 is determined by the length of the respectivepair of spacersocket members 16 therebetween. Consequently, to cover thefull extent of the openings in the channels 20' and 21, the plug membersare formed to the same length as the spacer-socket members 16 whichdetermine the extent of particular channel openings. Thus in thisembodiment of my invention, wherein all of the spacer-socket members 16are of equal length, the plug members 17 are equal in length to thespacer-socket members 16 and to one another. However, in railingsutilizing unequal spacing of balusters, the plug members 17 are formedto various lengths corresponding to the various lengths of thespacer-socket members used, and are preferably stocked in pairs with apair of spacer-socket members of the same length. This is exemplified inthe exploded portion of FIG. 1 where it will be observed that the fourplug members shown there, 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d, correspond and areassociated with the respective spacersocket members 16a, 16b, 16c, and16d. Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, the plug 17a will be described indetail as typical of all of the plug members 17. As illustrated in thefragmented view of the plug member 17a, shown at FIG. 5, the plug member17a is a channel member having a pair of laterally spaced upstandingflanges 70 and 71, which are integrally interjoined by a web member 72.The lateral spacing of the flanges 70 and 71 is slightly less than thecorresponding opening between the inwardly turned flanges 40 and 41 ofthe channels 20 and 21, the space between which the plug 17a is intendedto cover. Each of the flange members 70 and 71 is provided with likelongitudinally extending beads 73 and '74 respectively. The inwardlyturned flanges 40 and 41 of the channels 20 and 21 are provided withconforming grooves and 76 respectively, to receive the beads 73 and 74respectively, therein. The grooves 75 and 76 are spaced from theco-planar faces 24 and 25 of railing 13, and the corresponding co-planarfaces 28 and 29 of the railing 14, a distance substantially the same asthe spacing of the beads 73 and 74 from the planar outer face 78 of theplug member 17a. As thus arranged, the plug 17a, when engaged in theopening of a channel and with the beads 73 and 74 thereof in thecorresponding grooves 75 and 76, the outer face 78 of the plug member17a is flush with the corresponding co-planar surfaces 24 and 25 of therail 13. The plug member 17a is preferably formed of the same materialas the other elements of the railing 10. Recognizing, however, that theflanges 70 and 71 must yield springably to be pressed into the channeland that not all such materials have the same degree of elasticity, itwill be appreciated that the plug member 17a must be formed compatiblywithin the limitation of the elasticity of the particular material used.

ASSEMBLY OF THE RAILING The railing 10 is preferably assembled on aflat-topped work table, but any relatively flat, hard surface, such as aconcrete floor, will also suflice. The hand rail 13 and the bottom rail14 are first placed on the assembly surface and arranged with theircapped ends (left-hand end as viewed at FIG. 1) at one common end, andwith the open ends of their respective channels 20 and 21 adjacent toone another. A first pair of spacer-socket members 16 are then insertedinto the channels 20 and 21, respectively. This is accomplished byengaging the key portions 55 of the spacer-socket members slidablywithin the associated tracks 50 of the corresponding channels 20 and 21.This first pair of spacer-socket members 16 are moved with hand forcealong the corresponding tracks 50 and into abutment with the caps (notshown) at the capped ends of the rails 13 and 14, respectively. Thepartially assembled rails 13 and 14 are then moved apart into spacedparallel positions with the respective channels 20 and 21 in crossfacing relation. Baluster 15a is then brought into engagement at one endthereof with the channel adjacent the exposed end of the firstspacersocket member 16 and with its outer end 66 hearing against thestep portion 45 of the channel 20. The baluster 15a is then moved towardthe first spacer-socket member 16 to engage the corresponding pin 65thereof partially into the socket portion 61 of the first spacersocketmember 16 installed in the rail 14. Inasmuch as full-pin-socketengagement preferably requires a force greater than that derived by handengagement, the pin 65 is not fully engaged in the socket 61 in thisoperation. The opposite end of the baluster 15a is then inserted intothe channel 21 of the bottom rail 14 and its corresponding pin 65 isengaged in a like manner with the socket portion 61 of the firstspacer-socket member 16 installed in rail 14.

A second pair of spacer-socket members 16 is then inserted into thechannels 20 and 21 respectively, and are brought into hand engagementwith the associated opposite pins 65 of the baluster 15a. In thiscondition, the baluster 15a is sandwiched at its top and its bottom btween the first and second spacer-socket members 16 and with itscorresponding pins partially engaged in the respective socket portionsthereof. The pins 65 are brought into full engagement with theirassociated socket portions by striking the outer open end of the secondspacer-socket members 16 with a mallet having a head and strikingportion conformed to fit within the channels 20 and 21. The secondspacer-socket members are thus driven toward the corresponding firstspacer-socket members and to a condition in which the end faces thereofadjacent the balusters 15a are brough into abutment therewith. Asdescribed hereinbefore, the relative spacing from the co-planar faces 47and 48 of the step portion 45 and the pins 65 from the respective endsurfaces 66 and 67 of the baluster 15a, is arranged to forcibly seat therespective end surfaces 66 and 67 of the baluster 15a against theassociated co-planar surfaces 47 and 48 of the step portion 45. Suchseating serves to provide rigidity of mounting of the baluster 15a withrespect to the rails 13 and 14. Contributing further toward rigidity isthe retention of the opposed pins 65 by the spaced sandwiching balusterconnectors at opposite sides of the baluster 15a. Further augmentingrigidity of the assembly, the opposed first and second spaced-socketmembers 16, being in abutting-bearing engagement with the opposite sidesurface of the baluster 15a serve to buttress the baluster 15a withrespect to the rail 13 and to the rail 14.

The second baluster 15b is then moved into place by Sliding it with itsopposite end portions engaged in the channels 20 and 21, in asubstantially parallel relationship with the first assembled baluster15a and through the open end of the channels 20 and 21. The upper andlower pins 65 of baluster 15b are then partially engaged in the opensocket portions 61 of the second assembled spacer-socket members 16. Athird pair of spacer-socket members 16 are then inserted with their keyportions 55 in the corresponding tracks 50 of the respective channels 20and 21. The third spacer-socket members 16 are brought into partialengagement with their associated upper and lower pins 65 of the baluster15b by hand engagement. The outer end portions of the third assembledspaced-socket members 16 are then driven toward the baluster 15a and toa position whereat the opposite end surfaces of the second and thirdassembled spacer-socket members are in abutting relationship against thecorresponding side surfaces of the baluster 15b. Successive balusters15c and 15d are then assembled with the rails 13 and 14 in the samemanner as that employed in the mounting of baluster 15b. The length ofthe rails 13 and 14 is such that upon assembly of baluster 15d with itsassociated fifth pair of spacer-socket members, noted in the explodedportion of the view of FIG. 1 as spacer-socket members 16b and 16d, theouter end surface of the spacer-socket members 16b and 16d co-terminatewith the open end of the rails 13 and 14. As described hereinbefore,when the spacersocket members are driven to full engagement with thepins 65, the end surfaces 66 and 67 are correspondingly forced intotight bearing engagement against the co-planar faces 47 and 48 of thestep portions 45 of the respective rails 13 and 14. As thus assembled,the balusters 15 are mounted rigidly with respect to angular movementrelative to the rails 13 and 14, and, in addition, the balusters 15 andthe associated baluster connectors 16 are firmly constrained frommovement along the track portions 50 and with respect to the rails 13and 14. Thus, the outermost spacer-socket members 16b and 16d, inaddition to being held in place by the engagement of their respectivesocket portions with the outermost pins 651; and d of the baluster 15dare further restrained from dislodgement by the resultant frictionbetween their key portion 45 and the track 50. Consequently, there is noneed for restraining means at the open end of the rails 13 and 14 tohold the assembled components in place for shipment and installation.

Finally, to complete the assembly of the railing 10, a plug member 17ais inserted into each opening in the channels 20 and 21 between andadjacent the assembled balusters 15a, 15b, 15c and 15d. It will, ofcourse, be recognized that the plug members 17 may, alternatively, beassembled concurrently with the respective spacersocket member 16 thatthey cover. In this method of assembly, a plug member 17 is slipped intosliding engagement with the rails 13 and 14 immediately following theassembly of its corresponding spacer-socket member 16, and in the samemanner as the spacer-socket member. As thus assembled, the interlockingcooperable components of the railing 10 provide a rigid railingstructure having a substantially continuous and smooth railing surfaceover the entire extent of the hand rails 13 and the bottom rail 14respectively, thereof.

Having thus described the presently preferred embodiment of myinvention, I claim:

1. A railing structure assembled of associated mechanically interlockedcooperable components including at least one elongated rail, at leastone baluster, and connecting means interposed between said rail and saidbaluster, said rail being provided with an elongated channel open at oneend thereof and defined therein by a pair of laterally spaced channelwalls and a central grooved track; said baluster having one end portiondimensioned to be received between said channel walls and with theterminal end thereof seated against said track, and said connectingmeans comprising a pair of pins extending outwardly, respectively, fromopposite sides of said one end portion of said baluster, and socketmembers each including a key portion formed for sliding engagementwithin said grooved track, and a socket portion adapted to accept andgrip said pins, one said socket member being provided at each of saidopposite sides of a baluster received in said channel to engagerespective pins of said pair of pins to rigidly interconnect saidbaluster and said rail.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein said spaced channel wallsare planar and are arranged in parallel relationship to receive said oneend of said baluster in intimate slip-fit engagement therebetween, andthereby to restrain said baluster from movement transversely withrespect to said rail.

3. The invention of claim 1, in which the terminal end of said one endportion f0 said baluster is at a right angle with respect to thelongitudinal axis of said baluster, and said centrol grooved trackincludes a step portion configured to receive said terminal end inbearing relationship to provide rigidity between the assembly of a saidbaluster 9 and said rail and to restrain said assembled baluster andsaid associated connecting means from movement along said track and withrespect to said rail.

4. The invention set forth in claim 2, wherein the terminal end of saidone end portion of said baluster is at a right angle with respect to thelongitudinal axis of said baluster, and said central grooved trackincludes a step portion configured to receive said terminal end inbearing relationship to provide rigidity between the assembly of a saidbaluster and said rail and to restrain said assembled baluster and saidassociated connecting means from movement along said track and withrespect to said rail.

5. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein there is further providedplug members to cover the open portion of the channel overlying the saidconnecting means adjacent assembled balusters, said rail and said plugmembers being provided with cooperable mating detent means to retainsaid plug members in an assembled position flush with the outer surfaceof the rail adjacent said channel.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5, wherein said plug members areintegrated with and part of said connecting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,654,579 10/1953 Cremens 256-212,771,276 11/ 1956 Constance et al. 25622 10 2,808,233 10/1957 Spescha256-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 964,048 7/ 1964- Great Britain.

1 DENNIS L. TAYLOR, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 25665

